Staff Blog

Everywhere you go in Cebu, you see people cooking meat like this on the side of the road. There's this smoky haze around them and the meat is stuck on skeweres and barbecued to perfection.

It's no different at CSC! The uncles have the job of being the barbecue-master and they know how to do it right. They hold a little piece of cardboard and wave the smoke away as the chicken cooks.

Speaking of chicken, I was surprised to see this guy standing so close by...

One thing that's interesting about CSC's barbecued chicken is that they barbecue it twice. The pan on the right side is for the skewers that have been on the grill just once. The pan on the left is for the skewers that have been on the grill TWICE. This gives the chicken an extra yummy crispy exterior and a smoky flavor. Delicious!

Chicken Barbecue
Recipe from the Eicher house

6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1 bouillon cube
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 lbs. chicken thighs, cut into small pieces*

1. Combine all the ingredients except chicken to make a marinade. Marinate the chicken for 3-4 hours.
2. Start a charcoal grill and let the coals get very hot. You want smoking, flameless coals.  Thread the chicken pieces onto wood skewers and place on a metal grate over the coals. Brush with oil and grill until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes.
3. Repeat the grilling process with the cooked chicken, brushing with oil as necessary and grilling a second time until the outside of the chicken is a deep golden brown with a crispy exterior.

*The CSC aunties and uncles use bone-in chicken thighs with skin, but you could substitute boneless chicken thighs with skin. Keep the skin because it's what makes each piece browned and crispy on the outside.

The other day I was having coffee with a donor. We were having a good talk when another donor walked into the coffee shop. He was meeting with a pastor and the four of us got the chance to do introductions and say hello.

I know both of these donors well and it was exciting to introduce them, but the best part was how the one introduced me and CSC to his pastor friend. He said, "my wife and I only give monthly to two organizations. One is our church, the other is the Children's Shelter of Cebu."

When he and his friend walked away, the other donor looked at me and said, "wow, what an honor." He was struck by that statement too. Could we ask for a better endorsement? It was really touching.

Since those introductions I've been thinking about how much I love our monthly donors. There's something very encouraging about someone signing up for Electronic Funds Transfer or choosing to give faithfully every month. Whenever I look at the monthly contributors list I marvel at how much they must believe in CSC. You can't say, "I believe in you" much better than giving something of yours to keep us at work in Cebu. And to faithfully do it every month? It means a lot.

All of our contributors must love our kids and love what we do. They could find something else to spend that money on, but instead they send it to care for homeless children in Cebu. And we love our donors too! We wouldn't be here without you.

On August 14-16, I had the opportunity to represent CSC at the 12th Global Consultation on Child Welfare Services. The conference was sponsored by the Philippine Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) and the Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines. Representatives from CSC have attended most of the conferences over the years. I was asked to read a paper on adoption searches from the perspective of the sending country, which I presented on Thursday. It was great to have Marlys with me on Thursday and Friday. The event was held at the Manila Hotel, one of the grand old hotels in Asia. We had a great time re-connecting with old friends, both from local and international agencies that work with adoption in the Philippines. CSC is one of the "senior" agencies now, and we have placed children in most of the countries that were represented at the conference.  Between Marlys and me we were able to talk with people from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. Some of these people have visited CSC at one time or another, or know the families that have adopted our children. Many of the child caring and placing agencies in the Philippines were also in attendance so there were plenty of networking opportunities. Marlys was happy to be able to talk with many of the people I have had a chance to work with in Manila over the years, but whom she hadn't had a chance to meet before this conference.

Now that's some spaghetti.

If you have been to a CSC birthday party or a McDonald's in the Philippines, you've probably had Filipino spaghetti.

I was really surprised when Auntie Pureza and Auntie Elvira showed me the ingredients for Filipino spaghetti. They are so similar to American spaghetti - like tomato paste, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, and ground meat.

But if you've had Filipino spaghetti you know that there are two main differences to the spaghetti that we eat in other parts of the world.

1 - it's sweeter, and

2 - it has red hot dogs in it.

Okay, maybe the red hot dogs are just a CSC thing, but regardless, this creamy and semi-sweet spaghetti is definitely a kid favorite and a top birthday party meal request in all the houses at CSC.

My favorite thing about this day was watching Auntie Pureza make this birthday party spaghetti for what was probably the millionth time in her life. Praise God for her dedication to fill the role as a temporary mother and birthday-spaghetti-maker for the children at CSC - and with a smile on her face.

Filipino Spaghetti
Recipe from the Cherne house

1 lb. uncooked spaghetti noodles
1 lb. Italian tomato sauce (very smooth)
8 ounces tomato paste
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons oil
1 lb. ground pork
½ cup minced carrots and red peppers
2 cups diced or thinly sliced hot dogs
1 cup water
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon seasoning mix*
7 ounces evaporated milk
grated cheese for topping

1. Cook the noodles according to package directions. Set aside.
2. Place the garlic, onion, and oil in a large saucepan or skillet. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until soft and fragrant. Add the ground pork and brown the meat until it’s completely cooked.
3. Add the minced vegetables and hot dog pieces and stir to combine. Add the water and allow the mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste to the meat and continue to simmer the mixture for another 10-15 minutes. Add the evaporated milk and salt and stir until incorporated. 
4. Combine the noodles and the sauce in a large pot or mixing bowl. Top with grated cheese. At Cherne they grate a processed cheese similar to Velveeta and let it melt into the top layer of the spaghetti.

*The CSC aunties use a mix called Magic Sarap which basically adds a very salty flavor. If you don't have anything like this, just use salt and pepper to taste.

Note: I wondered what made this taste so much sweeter than the spaghetti that I'm used to, and I honestly couldn't find any ingredients in the recipe that would have necessarily added sweetness (i.e. no added sugar in the recipe). I think that the sauce that they use just tastes sweeter than other varieties and doesn't have so many spices.

On Monday of this week, a new business venture was begun at CSC!  The Level C1 kids are trying their hand at a food business to learn about math, economics, supply and demand and who among their teachers and aunties has a sweet tooth or an unhealthy need for soft drinks!  :)

For the next 12 school days, each day during the snack time break they will sell their handmade goodies (and handpurchased drinks); something different will be offered each day.  The first day was a red hotdog in a soft bakery bun---they also provided ketchup for those who prefer a more dressed up dog.  I had forgotten to visit the school during snack time, but I needn't have fretted as the group came to my office with their food, their bank, complete with tissues and ketchup if I needed!  Such service!  They also excitedly told me that they have Coke Light; however when I asked for one I was told that I could visit their school for that one.  :)  But really, how can you turn them down?!  And T. Glenda is a smart cookie to encourage them to make their business a mobile one!  :)

Yesterday's snack was arroz caldo, a warm soupy rice dish.  Again, the girls found me in my office.  They were, however, sold out of arroz caldo, but were wondering if I would like a drink.  They had decided to also make their drinks a part of their mobile sales---I rewarded their business savvy with my purchase of a Coke Light.

Today was gulaman; a gelatinous dessert.  It is the consistency of jello but today's was made with coconut milk instead of water.  I bought one for 3 pesos and a Coke Light to wash it down, 25 pesos for that, so my delicious snack was 28 pesos in all.  That is about 50 cents---a steal!

I have heard rumors that Monday is pancake day!  I am SUPER excited for Monday.

At the end of this project, they will calculate their earnings, split them amongst them and will go shopping together.  I have already asked some of them what they think they will buy, so far the unanimous decision has been: JUNK FOOD!  Go figure.  ;)  

  Today's snack

Future business ladies:

 They are learning early and are quite persuasive already! :)

I love how EXCITED these girls are about school and learning and I LOVE how they brighten up my day when they come to my office in the morning!

Oh and the face masks are so they practice proper food handling and hygiene; there is no end to the benefits of this project!

Also, did I mention that Monday is pancake day?  I am looking forward to Monday...

:)